The venue of the office-bearers’ meeting of Indian Medical Association (IMA) to be held in Pattaya, Thailand, from November 26 to 30 has come in for criticism as the place is “known for sex tourism”.

The venue of the office-bearers’ meeting of Indian Medical Association (IMA) to be held in Pattaya, Thailand, from November 26 to 30 has come in for criticism as the place is “known for sex tourism”.

“We were dismayed to learn that the meeting would be held in Pattaya. This is not only strange but shocking as there does not seem logic in holding the meeting there,” said Dr GS Grewal, president, Punjab Medical Council (PMC).

In a communique sent to IMA president Dr A Marthana Pillai, Dr Grewal and Dr Arun Mitra, chairman, ethical committee of PMC, said the conference is neither an international meeting nor a pan-Asia meet of medical associations; nor is it an inter-affiliate meeting between the IMA and Thailand Medical Association to discuss important health care issues and concerns between the two countries. They have demanded a change in the venue.

Dr Pillai was not available for comment. IMA secretary general Dr KK Aggarwal told HT that those objecting to the meeting had a dirty mind as the meeting is in keeping with the IMA constitution. “We had options among Thiruvananthapuram, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and Thailand was the cheapest,” he said. Around 50 office-bearers will attend the meet. Dr Aggarwal said there would be an expenditure of Rs 25,000 per office-bearer.

Meanwhile, national vice-president Dr OPS Kande said he failed to understand why the meeting was not being held in India.